Magnetic valve train for combustion engines

ABSTRACT

A reciprocating piston internal combustion engine is provided and includes poppet-type intake and exhaust valves. The valves are spring-biased under light spring pressure toward their closed positions and opposed electromagnets are operatively associated with each valve for shifting the latter between the open and closed limit positions thereof. Further, hydraulic dampening structure is provided for rapidly retarding the speed of movement of the valves as they approach their limit positions of movement. In this manner, there is a cushioning action on the valves and their seats as well as a substantial reduction in the tendency of the valves to operate in an erratic manner when the engine is operating under high speed conditions.

[111 3,853,102 51 Dec. 10, 1974 1 1 MAGNETIC VALVE TRAIN FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES [75] Inventors: Charles W. Myers, Nashville; Lester E. Harvill, Centerville, both of Term.

[73] Assignee: said Harvill, by said Myers, a part interest [22] Filed: May 31, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 365,750

[51] Int. Cl. 1 F011 1/16 [58] Field of Search 123/9011, 90.12, 90.49, 123/188 VA, 188 AF, 188 SA, 188 SB, 90.66, 90.67

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 548,772 10/1895 Bridges 123/9049 555,373 2/1896 Henriod-Schweizer 123/9049 1,062,580 5/1913 Bollee, Fils 123/9012 1,471,861 10/1923 Perrault..... 123/9011 1,474,842 11/1923 Misuraca.... 123/9011] 1,493,357 5/1924 Lombard 123/9049 1,675,954 7/1928 Page 123/9049 1,857,005 5/1932 Schotthoefer.... 123/9067 2,030,247 2/1936 Dilworth 123/9012 2,117,434 5/1938 Krebs 1 123/9066 2,329,662 9/1943 Steiner 123/9012 Primary Examiner Manuel A. Antonakas Assistant ExaminerDaniel J. OConnor Attorney, Agent, or FirmClarence A. O'Brien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A reciprocating piston internal combustion engine is provided and includes poppet-type intake and exhaust valves. The valves are spring-biased under light spring pressure toward their closed positions and opposed electromagnets are operatively associated with each valve for shifting the latter between the open and closed limit positions thereof. Further, hydraulic dampening structure is provided for rapidly retarding the speed of movement of the valves as they approach their limit positions of movement. In this manner, there is a cushioning action on the valves and their seats as well as a substantial reduction in the tendency of the valves to operate in an erratic manner when the engine is operating under high speed conditions.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEL @974 3.853 1G2 MEI 1 0F 2 PAIEHHL #13 1 (H974 SHEET 2 OF 2 Fig.3

MAGNETIC VALVE TRAIN FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES The valve actuating mechanism of the instant invention has been designed to provide a valve structure for internal combustion engines which will be highly dependable in operation, have a long life and be silent in operation. The valve actuating mechanism utilized opposed electromagnets for each valve.

The poppet valves are rapidly shifted between their open and closed positions in timed sequence with the operation of the associated combustion engine by means of the opposing electromagnets and the movement dampening structure incorporated into the valve actuating mechanism serves to rapidly decelerate the valves as they approach each limit position in readiness to be moved toward the opposite limit position by the corresponding electromagnet. Consequently, the electromagnets need not be of the extreme capacity that would be required if they were designed to not only shift the valves from one limit position to the other limit position but to also first overcome the momentum of the valves as they move toward the opposite limit positions.

The main object of this invention is to provide an electromagnetic poppet valve actuating mechanism which will be capable of precise actuation of associated poppet valves of an internal combustion engine.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a valve actuating mechanism including opposing electromagnets operatively associated with each poppet valve for shifting the latter between its limit positions and which also includes light compression springs yieldingly biasing the poppet valves to their closed positions for each valve to be maintained in the closed position during periods of non-operation of the associated engine.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an electromagnetic poppet valve actuating mechanism incorporating a hydraulic movement dampening feature whereby the momentum of each valve moving toward its limit position will be absorbed by the fluid movement dampening structure so as to require electromagnets of sufficient force only to shift the valves from one limit position to the other and not require electromagnets of such capacity which would be required to also .details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view of a typical embodiment of the electromagnetic valve actuating structure of the instant invention operatively associated with-the poppet valves of an internal combustion engine and with the wiring circuit for the electromagnets diagrammatically illustrated;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view similar to the upper portion of FIG. 1 but with one of the poppet valves illustrated in the open position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the poppet valves.

' Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates an internal combustion engine block having a cylinder bore 12 formed therein in which a ringed piston 14 is disposed for reciprocal movement toward and away from a cylinder head 16 secured to the upper portion of the block 10 in any convenient manner (not 'shown). The piston 14 has the upper end of a connecting rod 18 oscillatably connected thereto and the lower end of the connecting rod 18 is journaled on the throw of the crankshaft (not shown) journaled from the lower end of the block 10. The crankshaft drives a distributor shaft 20 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The cylinder head 16 includes an inlet port 22 and an outlet port 24. An intake manifold 26 is'provided and includes air and fuel induction passages 28 registered with the inlet port 22 and the engine block 10 further includes an exhaust manifold 30 having an exhaust passage 32 registered with the outlet port 24. The outlet and inlet ends of the ports 22 and 24 define valve seats 33 and 34 for the head ends 36 and 38 of a pair of inlet and outlet poppet valves 40 and 42 including shank portions 44 and 46 slidably received through bores 48 and 50 formed in the head 16. The upper ends of the bores 48 and 50 include threaded counterbores 52 and 54 in which externally threaded reduced diameter ends 56 and 58 of a pair of guides 62 and 64 are secured. The guides 62 and 64 have guide bores 66 and 68 formed therethrough in which the valve stems 44 and 46 are freely slidably received and the upper ends of the guides 62 and 64 include counterbores 67 and 69.

The upper surface of the head 16 has a cover 70 secured thereover by means of fasteners 72 and the cover 70 includes a top wall 74 provided with sleeves threadedly secured therethrough defining bores 76 and 78 through which diametrically enlarged upper portions 80 and 82 of the stems 44 and 46 are slidable. In addi tion, the top wall 70 includes a pair of depending cylindrical bosses 84 and 86 which project downwardly about the lower ends of the removable sleeves defining the bores 76 and 78. A pair of compression springs 88 have their lower ends disposed about the guides 62 and 64 and abutted against the upper surfaceof the head 16-. The upper ends of the springs 88 are encircled about diametrically reduced lower portions 90 and 92 of a pair of abutment members 94 and 96 carried by the valve stems 44 and 46 closely below the diametrically enlarged upper end portions 80 and 82 thereof. The upper ends of the springs 88 abut against the underside portions of the diametrically enlarged upper ends of the abutment members 94 and 96 and the valve stems 44 and 46 extend through central bores 98 and 100 formed through the abutment members 94 and 96. The upper ends of the bores 98 and 100 include counterbores 102 and 104 in which the cylindrical bosses 84 and 86 are snugly but somewhat loosely received. Furth'er, the diametrically reduced lower end portions 90 and 92 of the abutment members 94 and 96 are snugly but somewhat loosely receivable in the counterbores 67 and 69 formed in the guides 62 and 64.

A pair of opposite side oil header tubes 104 and 106 extend along opposite side marginal portions of the head 16 beneath the cover 70 and include integral nozzles 108 and 110 operative to spray lubricating oil into the counterbores 67 and 69 as well as the counterbores 102 and 104 when the valves 40 and 42 are in their lower limit positions. Also, a pair of electromagnet assemblies referred to in general by the reference numerals 112 and 114 are carried by the topwall 74 of the cover 70 and each electromagnet assembly 112 and 114 includes a pair of opposing electromagnets 116 and 118. When actuated, the electromagnets 116 act upon the' diametrically enlarged upper end portions 80 and 82 of the valves 40 and 42 to close the latter and the electromagnets 118, when actuated, act upon the diametrically enlarged upper portions 80 and 82 of the valve stems 44 and 46 to open the valves 40 and 42.

With attention now invited more specifically to the diagrammatic showing of the wiring diagram in FIG. 1 of the drawings, a distributor 120 is provided and includes a rotor 122 driven from the shaft 20. The rotor is'electrically connected to a source 124 of electrical potential and includes a pair of contacts 126 which are operative to sweep a plurality of electrical contacts 128, 130, 132 and 134 carried by the distributor 120. Each of the electromagnets 116 is grounded as at 136 and each of the electromagnets 118 is grounded as at 140. Accordingly, it may be seen that the radial outermost contact 'actuat es the electromagnet 116 operatively associated with the exhaust valve 42 and the electromagnet 118 operatively associated with the exhaust valve 42. Further, the inner contact 126 on the rotor 122 serves to actuate the electromagnet 116 operatively associated with the valve 40 and the electromagnet 118 operatively associated with the valve 40. Of course, the electromagnets 116 and 118 are thereby actuated in timed sequence with the operation of the inpump may be utilized to supply engine lubricating oil' under pressure to the oil header tubes 104 and 106 whereby lubricating oil may be continuously sprayed from the nozzles 108 and 110. In operation, and assuming that the valves 40 and 42 are in the open and closed positions,'respectively, thereof illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings, and that the piston 14 is therefore on its downward intake stroke, as the piston 14 reaches its lower limit position the electromagnet 118 associated with the valve 40 ceases to function and the electromagnet 116 is actuated. However, during the previous movement of the valve 40 to the open position, the diametrically reduced portion 90 of the abutment member 94 was received downwardly in the counterbore 46 and engaged the quantity of lubricating oil within the counterbore 67 so as to sharply reduce the speed of movement of the valve 40 to its full open position and to substantially terminate all movement of the valve 40 in a downward direction. Then, as the electromagnet 116 operatively associated with the valve 40 is actuated, the electromagnet 116 need only urge the valve 40 to its closed position on the upward compression stroke of the piston 14 and is not required to also overcome downward inertia of the valve 40 as it moves to its final open position. Of course, operation of the valve 42 is substantially the same.

As the valve 40 approaches its fully closed position, the abutment member 94 moves upwardly relative to the cylindrical boss 84 so that the latter is received within the counterbore 102 which is also filled with lubricating oil and thus upward movement of the valve 40 to its full closed position is dampened hydraulically. Of course, each time the valves move upward the lower nozzles 108 serve to replenish the supply of lubricating oil in the counterbores 67 and 69. Also, as the valves 42 and 44 move to their downward open positions, the nozzles serve to replenish the supply of lubricating oil in the counterbores 102 and 104.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes'will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with an engine cylinder and an upstanding valve therefor including an elongated stem portion longitudinally shiftable between first and second positions relative to vertically spaced stationary portions of said engine spaced along said stem portion, valve actuating force means operatively associated with said valve for yieldingly biasing saidstem portion between said first and second positions, the lower stationary portion of said engine defining an upwardly opening lower cup through the center of which said stem portion extends and the upper stationary portion of said engine defining a downwardly facing upper piston portion through the center of which said stem portion extends, body means carried by said stem portion for movement therewith defining an upwardly opening upper cup portion below said upper stationary portion extending about said stem portion and a downwardly facing lower piston portion centrally through which said stem portion projects, said upper piston portion being loosely at least substantially fully telescopingly seated into said upper cup portion when said stem portion is in said upper position and said lower piston portion being loosely at least substantially fully telescopingly seated in said lower cup portion when said stem portion is in said lower position, said upper and lower piston portions, when saidstem portion is in said upper and lower positions, respectively, being fully retracted from telescopic engagement in said upper and lower cup portions, and means operative to direct a discharge of oil into said cup.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said body means comprises a single body structure mounted on said stem portion.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said valve actuating mechanism comprises opposing electromagnets operatively associated with said valve for shifting the latter from said closed position toward said open posider and valve yieldingly biasing said valve toward said closed position, the biasing force of said spring means being considerably less than the biasing force of the electromagnet operative to open said valve UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION December 10, 1974 INVENTOR(S) CHARLES W. MYERS AND LESTER E. HARVILL PATENT NO.

DATED It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading after the addrees change "assignors to said Harvill,

by said Myers," to said Myers, assignor to J. Wallace Harvill, Centerville Tennessee.,--

Signed and sealed this 15th day of July 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks RUTH Co MASON Attesting Officer 

1. In combination with an engine cylinder and an upstanding valve therefor including an elongated stem portion longitudinally shiftable between first and second positions relative to vertically spaced stationary portions of said engine spaced along said stem portion, valve actuating force means operatively associated with said valve for yieldingly biasing said stem portion between said first and second positions, the lower stationary portion of said engine defining an upwardly opening lower cup through the center of which said stem portion extends and the upper stationary portion of said engine defining a downwardly facing upper piston portion through the center of which said stem portion extends, body means carried by said stem portion for movement therewith defining an upwardly opening upper cup portion below said upper stationary portion extending about said stem portion and a downwardly facing lower piston portion centrally through which said stem portion projects, said upper piston portion being loosely at least substantially fully telescopingly seated into said upper cup portion when said stem portion is in said upper position and said lower piston portion being loosely at least substantially fully telescopingly seated in said lower cup portion when said stem portion is in said lower position, said upper and lower piston portions, when said stem portion is in said upper and lower positions, respectively, being fully retracted from telescopic engagement in said upper and lower cup portions, and means operative to direct a discharge of oil into said cup.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said body means comprises a single body structure mounted on said stem portion.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said valve actuating mechanism comprises opposing electromagnets operatively associated with said valve for shifting the latter from said closed position toward said open position and from said open position toward said closed position.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said first position comprises the closed position of said valve, and spring means operably connected between said cylinder and valve yieldingly biasing said valve toward said closed position, the biasing force of said spring means being considerably less than the biasing force of the electromagnet operative to open said valve. 